Lawn edger



United States Patent 2,962,102 LAWN EDGER Edward L. M. Weeren, Box '31,La Grange, Tex.

Filed Apr. 1, 1958, Ser. No. 725,634 s Claims. Cl. 172-18 This inventionrelates to lawn tools and more particularly to a lawn edger tool.

An object of the invention is to provide an edger which is capable ofhand operation by a single attendant, the edger constructed and arrangedto out either vertically or at an angle to the horizontal and verticalor both. This tool is easily handled and is provided with means forlimiting penetration of the vertically cutting blade so as to establisha depth gauge and to also establish a firm base for manipulation of theangular cutting tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a medhanically simple lawnedger capable of trimming the edges of lawns to a very fine degree ofaccuracy and with a minimum of difiiculty.

These together with other objects and advantages which Will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the ac companying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of an edger constructed in accordance with theinvention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the edger of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Figure4.

In the accompanying drawings there is an edging tool or edger whichexemplifies the principles of the invention. It consists of an elongatehandle 12 whose lower end is rigidly secured in sleeve 14. The sleeve isnoncircular and of the same cross sectional shape as the lower end ofthe handle in order to prevent rotation of the bandle in its sleeve 14.The sleeve 14 has lateral flanges 18 and 20 to which a first blade 22 isfixed. This blade has a straight cutting edge 24 at its bottom and hasupper plates 26 and 28 at its upper edge and to which the flanges 18 and20 are welded or otherwise fastened. Depth gauge 30, constructedpreferably of a U-shaped member and bolted or otherwise fastened tosleeve 14, depends slightly below the lower part of sleeve 14 and isadapted to contact the soil surface to function as a depth gauge (seeFigure 1). Plates 26 and 28 can be used as step plates should the userso wish. Otherwise, they will serve only a structural supportingfunction.

The movable blade (movable with respect to blade 24) 34 is preferably arectangular plate with :a lower straight, sharp cutting edge 36. Movableblade 34 has two tracks 40 and 42 fixed to its upper surface and thesecan be of any construction such as the grooved bars of Figure 4, angles,etc. Guides 44 and 46 are held captive in tracks 40 and 42, these tracksmoving on the guides 44 and 46. They are held onto mounting brackets 48and 50 that protrude from the front face of blade 22. The guides areangular in disposition that is, they are'in plane located between thevertical and horizontal directions so that the movement of the blade 34is toward the rear face of blade 22 against which the cutting edge 36comes to rest when the movable blade 34 is depressed the full extent ofits travel.

' A step or foot plate 56 is attached by brackets 58 to the movableblade 34 and to the tracks 40 and 42. A spring 60 or a suitableequivalent is mounted on centering pin 62 that is carried by amountingbracket 65. The mounting bracket 65is fixed' to the insidefaces. of plates 48 and 50. The upper end of the spring 60 is mounted ona centering pin 66 which is fixed, as by bracket 68, to the bottomsurface of the foot plate or treadle 56. Accordingly, the downward andoutward movement of the movable blade 34 is opposed yieldingly by spring60 when the user presses downward with its foot on foot plate 56. Assoon as the user lifts his foot, the spring 60 automatically returns themovable blade 34 to the elevated position (Figure 1) at which time stop64, that is adjustably attached to blade 34 by bolt 67, strikes bracket65 (Figure 3).

In use, the attendant merely grasps handle -12 and depresses it in theground at the point of his desire. This cuts a vertical line and isespecially useful in trimming lawn edges where grass has grown adjoiningconcrete walks, driveways, etc. Thereafter the edge is made complete bythe user depressing foot plate 56 thereby causing the lower part ofmovable blade 34 to cut a groove very neatly and smoothly with thecutting edge 36 coming against the rear face of the blade 22 so that thelatter acts as a shear plate.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lawn edger comprising the combination of a handle adapted to bemanually operated, a first substantially flat blade, means attachingsaid blade to said handle, a depth gauge connected with said blade tolimit the penetration of said blade into the ground, a second blademounted at an angle with respect to said first blade and adapted tocontact one face of said first blade in response to depression of saidsecond blade, means movably mounting said second blade on said firstblade and constraining the motion of said second blade to straight linemotion so that the cutting edge of said second blade comes into contactwith a face of said first blade upon depression of said second blade,yielding means opposing the movement of said second blade toward saidfirst blade and returning said second blade after it is so moved, saidmeans mounting said second blade including a pair of plates attached tosaid first blade and protruding from said face thereof, and meansincluding engaged guides and straight tracks connected with said platesand said second blade operatively connecting said second blade to saidplates.

2. The edger of claim 1 wherein there is a foot plate at the upper edgeof said second blade for foot operation of said second blade, and aplate attached at the upper edge of said first blade to facilitatedepression of said first blade into the turf by application of foot pressure thereon.

3. A lawn edger is accordance with claim 1 wherein said depth gaugeincludes a substantially U-shaped memher which opens upwardly and whichhas a pair of sides alongside of said handle, adjustable means connectedbetween said sides and the lower end of said handle for selectivelyadjusting the position of said substantially U- shaped member withrespect to said handle thereby adjusting the position of saidsubstantially U-sha ed memher with respect to, the length of said handle4. The lawn edger vofclaim 3 wherein th'ereisasocket at the lowerendofsaid handle and within whic'h said lower end of saidwhandle isdisposed, said fsocket joined to said first substantially flat blade,and said substahtial- 1y U-shaped member defining said depth "gaugehaving the said sides thereof disposed againstitlie o'u'tside surface ofsaid socket. i

5. The subjectmatter of claim 4 wherein said means adjustably securingsaid sides of said substantially U-shaped 4 member to the lower part ofthe handle include a series of apertures in said sides of said U-shapedmember and at least one bolt passed through a selected pair of saidapertures :and through an aperture in said socket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS147,977 Race Feb. 24, 1874 1,537,537 Liebscher May 12, 1925 1,543,996Franks June 30, 1925 2,015,109 Hays Sept. 24, 1935 2,348,669- Winter May9, 1944 2,513,730 Little L July 4, 1950 2,777,380 Dickey Jan. 15, 1957

